INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
during the special meeting between the Government Medical Officers Association and the President yesterday and the problems faced by the
health sector and doctors were discussed at length, the statement said.President Ranil Wickremasinghe stressed the need for an urgent system
to resolve the difficulties faced by the people due to the shortage of medicines and the rise in the price of medicines
The President also said that he will discuss with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund about other needs in the health sector
including medicines.The report of the relevant committee has identified the shortcomings in the coordination between the Ministry of Health,
Medical Supplies Division, State Pharmaceutical Corporation, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation and National Drug Regulatory
Therefore, the report also suggested that a coordination committee be appointed by the Ministry of Health and a monthly progress review
obtained.The report of the committee has also proposed to appoint a technical committee to study the recommendations of the Auditor General
submitted within the last five years in order to solve the problems that have arisen due to the lack of action taken regarding the
for the provision of medicines for cancer patients
Representatives of the Government Medical Officers Association pointed out that there is a shortage of medicines and insulin for cancer
patients and steps should be taken to solve the problem as soon as possible.The increase in drug prices has become a major problem in the
country today and the need for a proactive decision by the government to provide some relief for essential drugs and the problem that may
arise from patients avoiding taking drugs or increasing visits to government hospitals due to the increase in drug prices were discussed at
length during the meeting.President Ranil Wickremasinghe also pointed out the need to expand and develop the facilities of Colombo National
Hospital, Kalubowila Hospital and Jayawardenepura Hospital as well as the need for policy change in the entire health sector.The Government
Medical Officers Association also submitted their proposals to the President regarding the payment of additional duty allowances for
doctors, official transport facilities for doctors and the revision of those allowances, the revision of the government administrative
circular regarding foreign leave and the importation of electric vehicles on tax concessions for public service professionals.The President
pointed out that there is a need to introduce a professional development program to upgrade the grades of all universities including Raja
Rata, Peradeniya, Karapitiya, etc
approved by the University Grants Commission, and even though the universities offer such study courses, the service constitution of the
Ministry of Health has not approved it
Therefore, the government should take policy decisions regarding this matter
pointed out the difficulties in sending foreign exchange to students studying abroad, and the President emphasized that higher education
Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs R.H.S
Samaratunga, Trade Union Director General Mr
Saman Ratnapriya and President of Government Medical Officers Association Y.V.N.D
Sirisena and other members participated in the discussion.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
